Review: Button City

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam
• Developer:  Subliminal Gaming
• Publisher: Subliminal Gaming
• Release Date: August 10th, 2021

If you’re anything like me, you probably have fond memories of going to the arcade as a kid. I specifically remember nights of backlit laser tag, fluorescent neon bowling pins, and (of course) tons of addictive games. My personal favorites were always Galaga and the Jurassic Park Arcade games, but I distinctly remember a roller coaster simulation game that made me excitedly weak in the knees every time my friends and I would play. There’s something about the camaraderie of arcades as a kid that makes you feel invincible, like you and your buddies have a vital, yet simple, mission at hand – get all the tickets. No game capitalizes on this fervent nostalgia quite like Button City.

Join The Fluff Squad

Indie developers Subliminal Gaming recently released Button City, a game combining the charm of 90’s arcades with peaceful, narrative-driven playthrough to result in an adorably creative RPG. You play as Fennel, a cute anthropomorphic fox new to town and looking for some friends. Along your journey, you stumble upon a neighboring feud between two teams of  Gobabots players, a game where you battle fruit-themed robots, at the local arcade. It’s not too long before you’re roped into joining the “Fluff Squad” and tasked to build your team of Gobabots. Each variation of Gobabot comes equipped with its own unique weapon, so you’re encouraged to collect them all for a complete arsenal at your disposal. You’ll explore the community, meet new people, complete side quests and errands, dress up in costumes, and most importantly, play arcade games!

As the plot develops, you and the Fluff Squad face an even more significant threat than losing the ultimate Gobabots competition – losing the arcade itself! In a genuinely evil capitalist venture, the greedy Peppermint Pepperbottom arrives in town and threatens to shut down Button City. It’s up to you and your friends to find a way to save Button City and win the title of Gobabot Champions!

Discover Colorful Button City

While this game is obviously inspired by the charming minimalism of games like Animal Crossing, Button City has a distinct charm. The characters are cleverly written and designed, and plenty of hilarious moments are sprinkled in the lively dialogue. Likewise, the music is upbeat and reminiscent of 90’s arcade title screens. While the same recycled tunes start to feel repetitive as the game progresses, you can’t deny that they’re bops.

You travel (or rather, teleport) throughout the city in a series of vertically adjacent platforms. You can visit different locations in town, like the cafe, the shops downtown, and even the dump. Each backdrop comes with new characters to meet and complete errands for or challenge in a Gobabots battle at Button City.

Speaking of the town’s hottest arcade, Button City has three main arcade games – Gobabots, rEVolution Racer, and Prisma Beats. The combat and various playable characters of Gobabots caught me coming back again and again, but it’s fun to take a delightful race in rEVolution Racer from time to time. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Prisma Beats, but truthfully, I’m also not the best at it. Whichever game you decide to play, you’ll receive tickets to exchange for prizes, food, new Gobabots, and more. Ah, simple transactional arcade bliss.

The casual playthrough encourages you to explore at your leisure and discover everything the low poly world has to offer. “Cozy” indie games have been a trending topic for novice and pro gamers alike, and I feel like Button City is a fantastic new addition to that genre. Admittedly, the initial plot progression is slow, and the controls can be a bit clunky, but nothing that a new gamer couldn’t easily pick up on their own. If you’re looking for a delightful narrative-driven story with the cutest cast of characters you can imagine, look no further than Button City.

A Nintendo Switch review code for Button City was provided by Subliminal Gaming